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Swansea City are keeping their fingers crossed over Jason Scotland as he prepares for a gruelling stint of international duty. Scotland met up with the Trinidad & Tobago squad in Port of Spain yesterday ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.

Scotland then travels to Chicago for another qualifying clash against the United States one week tonight before making the long journey back to Wales. Swansea colleague Dennis Lawrence is also part of the T & T squad, but the central defender is currently out of the first-team picture at the Liberty Stadium.

So Scotland is Roberto Martinez's primary concern, particularly with fellow striker Gorka Pintado still trying to get over a back problem. Last season's 29-goal top-scorer has had injury troubles of his own, missing the start of this campaign thanks to a summer stomach operation.

And Martinez admitted: "I would have preferred to have Jason here settling down a bit and getting a full week's training under his belt ahead of the Crystal Palace game.

"That would have been ideal, but then you will never get a happy situation with every player.

"Now Jason has gone, we hope he is involved in the two games because doing all that travelling to sit on the bench would be a waste of time."

In all Swansea have seven players on international duty this week. Ashley Williams and Owain Tudur Jones are with the Wales senior squad for the games against Azerbaijan and Russia, while Shaun MacDonald, Matty Collins and Joe Allen are in Brian Flynn's under-21 party for the crucial trip to Romania next Tuesday.

"I'm pleased because it's a reward for the good work the players have done with us," Martinez added.

"But from a selfish point of view it's not ideal that we are not going to see Jason and Dennis until a week tomorrow or possibly a week on Friday.

"It's a bit easier with the Welsh lads — the under-21s will be back on Wednesday and the seniors on Thursday.

"We just have to hope that they don't come back injured and that they all play some part in the games.

"It's a thin line between having a positive experience with your country and being asked to travel and wasting your time."

Swansea City will field a strong reserve side when they take on Reading at Port Talbot tonight (7pm). The likes of Alan Tate, Albert Serran and Guillem Bauza could all be involved.